BA (Hons) Interior Design

BA (Hons) Interior Design

About the course

Do you have a passion for interiors and the spaces we live in? This professionally accredited interior design programme blends aesthetics and technology, asking students to use their design, research and problem solving skills to create amazing indoor spaces. The course is supported by a group of employer partners who are actively involved in mentoring, helping past students to secure roles in a range of top London interior design businesses.

Students are encouraged to build these skills during independent industry work placements, as well as throughout the course’s curriculum of lectures, seminars and practical workshops. The course team are able to support students as they search for work placements by tapping into their professional network. In previous years, students have secured placements at property development companies including Crest Nicholson, Barrett Homes and Capita Symonds.

The staff’s industry links have also enabled students to work on live briefs, interact with real case studies and attend informal employer liaison meetings throughout the course.

The end of year show lets built environment students showcase their final projects to the public. Employers are also invited to attend, and past students have successfully gained employment as a result of the event. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in an annual London exhibition and national design competitions.

Southampton Solent University's BA (Hons) Interior Design course is accredited by the Society of British and International Design (SBID) and recognised by the European Council of Interior Architecture as meeting professional interior design standards. Students benefit from a free three years membership to both of these professional bodies.

What does this course lead to?

Recent graduates have found positions as interior designers in the commercial and domestic interior design sector in the UK, including London-based interior design practice Sarah Ward Associates, Artillery Architects, John Lewis Interiors, Crest Nicholson, Capita Symonds, Sunseeker, Jigsaw and Porcelanosa. Other graduates have been successful in setting up their own interior design practices.

Who is this course for?

This interior design programme is ideal for students who are preparing for careers in architectural interior design, retail design, space planning, workplace design and lighting.

Students from both academic and creative backgrounds will be considered as the course offers plenty of time to create a portfolio and learn basic skills.

Facts and figures

UCAS codes

Full Time

3 Years Standard Entry W250

4 Years Design Foundation Year W25W

Fees and costs

Tuition fees

The tuition fees for the 2018/19 academic year are:UK and EU full-time fees: £9,250 per yearInternational full-time fees: £12,500 per year

Other costs

While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. These additional costs are listed below. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.

Bursaries and scholarships

Southampton Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.

Graduation costs

Graduation is the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of your studies. For graduates in 2017, there is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £42 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost.

Key entry requirements

112 UCAS tariff points from A-levels or equivalent

A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at DMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D* or equivalent.

Applications from mature students and non-standard applicants may also be considered.

Applicants will be required to send an electronic portfolio.

Direct entry to year two may be offered to holders of an HND or HNC in an appropriate subject.

We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds. Applicants who are not in possession of the minimum entry requirements but are able to demonstrate aptitude, enthusiasm and motivation will be considered on an individual basis and may be admitted subject to satisfactory interview and/or portfolio. Please contact us for further details.

English language requirements

Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:

IELTS minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component

TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 19 in each individual component

or equivalent.

Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.

The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.

Note to all international students requiring a visa:

All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Southampton Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Southampton Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.

Key facts and indicators

Accredited by

Starting salary

£18,000

Average salary six months after the course.

Study abroad

The Erasmus+ programme gives you the opportunity to spend between a term and a year of your course studying abroad at one of our partner universities, or undertaking a work placement for a company in Europe.
For more information, see www.solent.ac.uk/exchange
If you are a student at one of our Erasmus partner institutions...
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Study abroad

The Erasmus+ programme gives you the opportunity to spend between a term and a year of your course studying abroad at one of our partner universities, or undertaking a work placement for a company in Europe.

If you are a student at one of our Erasmus partner institutions in Europe, then you may have the opportunity to come to the UK and study interior design units at Solent for either a single term or a full academic year as part of your degree programme.

If you’re studying outside Europe, then you may be able to study with us as an exchange student if there is a partnership agreement in place. If you are studying at a university which does not have a partnership agreement with us, then you could apply to study at Solent under our Study Abroad programme.

Transferable skills

The skills developed are mapped closely to industry demands: you will develop your presentation and practical design skills through presenting physical and digital models, and you’ll also enhance your creative thinking, project management, visual communication and detailing, evaluation and problem-solving skills.

Practical vs theory

The course is studio-based, providing students with the opportunity to develop and refine their interior design skills. Practical sessions are supported by some lectures and seminars.

Projects are linked to real-world briefs, and students have the opportunity to work with clients and employers.

Assessment

The course is assessed using studio-based design projects, portfolios and presentations, essays, mood boards and research projects.

The industry

At a time when the UK’s construction industry is benefitting from unprecedented levels of overseas investment (with residential housing remaining the fastest growing area in the sector), there is an increasing demand for talented interior design practitioners who can identify, research and implement creative interior solutions.

Student support and services

Student welfare - Southampton Solent University is committed to giving you the best possible educational experience during your time with us. As such we have a number of support services and policies set up covering funding, careers and employability, chaplaincy, counselling, international advice, student affairs, key academic skills, disability support and...
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Student support and services

Student welfare - Southampton Solent University is committed to giving you the best possible educational experience during your time with us. As such we have a number of support services and policies set up covering funding, careers and employability, chaplaincy, counselling, international advice, student affairs, key academic skills, disability support and general student advice. Find out more about our approach to student welfare.

University facilities - You will have access to a modern, comfortable and efficient study environment, including the Mountbatten library and learning resource centres. Solent offers a wide variety of sports halls, gyms and sports equipment, plus superb IT, media, and cutting-edge specialist facilities. Find out more about our first-class facilities here.

Living in Southampton - Southampton is a modern, vibrant student city brimming with arts and culture, top high street brands, green spaces and a buzzing nightlife. Studying at Solent means that you’ll be at the very heart of it. Find out more about being a student in Southampton.

Solent Students’ Union - Run by students for students, Solent Students’ Union is on hand to offer independent advice and support while you’re at university. Visit the Students’ Union website for more information.

94%

of students overall, are satisfied with the quality of the course

Study location

East Park Terrace

Got a question about this course?

How to apply

Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.

Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.

Your application should reach UCAS by January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.

The university cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.

Facilities

Interior design students work in the built environment studio centre. This modern studio space has been developed to give students access to an environment which mirrors the feel and atmosphere of a working professional studio. Students from various different built environment courses come together and collaborate on multidisciplinary projects, just as they would in the workplace.

Facilities and software available to students include CAD stations, Revit, Vector Works, Adobe Illustrator and SketchUp Pro, as well as both 3D and large format scanners.

Linked to European employers as well as the UK, the course offers students the opportunity to enter international design competitions. Students learn from industry experienced industry professionals and a fully accredited member of the SBID.

Your future

Graduates are prepared for careers in both residential and commercial interior design and its related disciplines. Interior design is an exciting career concerned with creating beautiful but functional and well planned spaces, using imaginative and creative ideas, colours, patterns, textures, light and space. Graduates will be able to model and manipulate the structure of the space, as well as designing the décor.

Suitable roles for graduates include:

Architectural interior designer

Superyacht interior designer

Commercial and residential interior designer

Exhibition and showroom designer

Retail designer and space planner

Interior creative consultant

Interior creative lighting designer

Professional freelance interior designer.

85%

Of students go on to work and/ or study.

70%

Of students are in a professional or managerial job.

The course really helped me experience a diverse range of subjects within the design and construction industry, not just interior design, which has been a real help in the transition to work within a multidisciplinary company. I want to thank Solent for supporting me and helping me gain so many skills that I can apply to everyday working life, especially time management and working to deadlines!

Hayley Harding, Graduate

It supports creativity and allows students to develop unique concepts and build on them with the guidance of lecturers who have had involvement in the industry. The diverse set of units encourages independent learning and offer relevant knowledge and key skills to succeed in a graduate environment. After graduation I successfully gained employment as a technical designer, my portfolio of 3D visuals definitely helped.

Hollie Jackson, Graduate

The interior design course at Southampton Solent was my first choice of university. The course covers every possible aspect of the design world you would need to make it in the industry after graduation, from concept to design realisation. Everybody assumes that an interior designer is just the person you hire to paint a wall and fluff a cushion, but the course has shown me that there is more to being a designer than that.

Joe Foxford, Graduate

I was impressed with the course, its content and the school. The course offered a very realistic insight into the working practices of interior design.

Steve Chapple, Gradaute

The interior design course covers a wide range of aspects of the design world, not just interior design, these aspects are what initially attracted me to this course at Solent University. This course teaches you realistic skills that you can take straight into industry, which I believe is extremely important. All the lecturers are so supportive, encouraging and friendly that created a pleasant and safe environment to learn and be creative.

Yasmin El Sayed, graduate employed with MoreySmith

Industry links

The course team has an extensive network of employer contacts, including London-based design practices, and you’ll work closely with the industry as you study.

Contact includes formal and informal employer liaison meetings, professional body engagements and close employer involvement with student learning and assessment.

Studies are enhanced by real case studies and guest speakers from relevant disciplines, while our network of industry contacts also delivers plenty of opportunities for work placements. Our annual London-based exhibition also provides extensive networking and self-promotion opportunities.

Placements

Through the course team’s contacts, students have been able to secure valuable work placements which have then led to permanent positions; recent placement examples include Crest Nicholson, Capita Symonds, Wilmott Dixon and Barrett Homes.

With award-winning projects, interior design students have successfully secured a year of industry mentoring, for three consecutive years.